Inner signs

Are unhelpful feelings and thoughts (whakaaro) taking over your life?

Distress is when our feelings and thoughts (whakaaro) get out of control and start to take over. It’s worth having a close look at how you have been thinking or feeling lately. Have you noticed any of these changes in yourself?

Social (Whānau)

These are some of the changes you might notice yourself feeling when you’re distressed:

not caring about other people right now

not being interested in what’s going on with your whānau or friends,

not wanting to be around other people

just wanting to be left alone.

Spirit (Wairua)

These are some of the changes you might notice yourself feeling when you’re distressed:

questioning why you’re here or what your purpose is in life

feeling life has lost its meaning

feeling cut off from the people and places you care about, like your whānau, friends and community

having worrying dreams

feeling a really strong need or pull to ‘go home’ but not really knowing why

feeling spiritually ‘unbalanced’

not ‘hearing’ a Nan, Koro or another ancestor (tīpuna) you normally ‘listen to’ as much

feeling numb or disconnected.

Are you doing things differently?

Your thoughts and feelings affect the way you behave as well. You might notice some of these outer signs.

Could it be depression or anxiety?

The examples on this page cover a range of signs of distress. If you’re mainly worrying, on edge or having times of panic, it could be anxiety. If it’s more about feeling low and miserable, it could be depression. Have a closer look at the signs and symptoms for depression and anxiety.

What next

Did you notice more negativity in any particular areas of your life? It might help to focus on those areas first to help you get better.

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